About Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder is a condition in which the bladder is overly sensitive and signals to urinate before it is full. In some cases, the bladder initiates voiding before the person is ready. Overactive bladder is often referred to as urge incontinence, because the condition causes a strong urge to urinate, coupled with an inability to contain the urine within the bladder. There are several possible causes of urge incontinence: bladder cancer, bladder stones, neurological illnesses and injuries. However, in most cases, according to the National Institutes of Health, there is no specific cause. Urge incontinence can occur at any age but is most common in the elderly.
About Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction occurs when a man has persistent and recurring problems maintaining an erection. Like urge incontinence, erectile dysfunction is more common in the elderly but can occur at any age. Erectile dysfunction was once thought to be a psychological condition but, in recent years, doctors have discovered the condition is often a sign of a deeper problem. Erectile dysfunction can serve as an early sign of heart disease or signal damage from hypertension and diabetes. Recent studies have shown men with urge incontinence are as likely to experience erectile dysfunction as men with hypertension, diabetes or heart disease.
Overactive Bladder and Erectile Dysfunction
In the September 2008 issue of the "Journal of Sexual Medicine," Debra E. Irwin, Ph.D. of the University of North Carolina published the results of a study linking erectile dysfunction with urge incontinence. The study conducted phone interviews with 1,004 men--a case group of 502 men with urge incontinence and a control group of 502 men without--regarding urge incontinence symptoms, sexual activity and sexual enjoyment. The men in the case group showed significantly more instances of reduced sexual activity than the control group. The case group was also significantly more likely to have erectile dysfunction than the control group. The study revealed that occurrence of erectile dysfunction in the case group was similar to that for men with other risk factors for erectile dysfunction.
